ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A St. Johns County man was arrested by federal investigators on Tuesday and is accused of stealing almost $700,000 from a Jacksonville development firm.
John Lucidi, 44, who beforehand served time in federal jail after pleading responsible in a 2011 multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme, now faces comparable fees together with wire fraud.
Based on a federal indictment, Lucidi labored in advertising and marketing a gross sales at a Jacksonville development firm and had entry to the corporate’s VyStar Credit score Union account.
From December 2018 till June 2022, investigators stated he defrauded the corporate out of about $660,000 by shifting cash from the VyStar account and a company American Specific account he created fraudulently to his private Sq. account.
Lucidi would then use the cash for his private profit, in accordance with the indictment.
At his arraignment, Lucidi pleaded not responsible to the fees.
He was launched on bond and ordered to give up his passport and report any new strains of credit score.
It’s not the primary time Lucidi has confronted potential jail time.
In 2011, he pleaded responsible right this moment to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and cash laundering in relation to a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme.
Between 2005 and 2008, Lucidi allegedly discovered patrons, together with relations, to buy residences for inflated costs in order that the patrons may get kickbacks at closing. Lucidi allegedly helped the patrons qualify for mortgages utilizing false info. The scheme resulted in losses to the mortgage lenders of roughly $7 million. At or after the true property closings, the patrons acquired kickbacks, usually between $30,000 and $50,000.
After he was launched from jail in 2017, he additionally launched a brand new enterprise: Fader-Ice.
According to the website, John, the founding father of Fader Ice, says he “likes to get together!” and talks about how he created the flavored alcoholic drink.
“John began altering substances and eventually had perfected his twelfth taste about six years later, solely to have this dream challenge come to a screeching halt when he was contacted by the FBI and brought to a high-security jail for 4 years (for crimes that stemmed from trusting dangerous authorized recommendation),” the about web page states.
Lucidi additionally stated on the positioning he launched a non-profit group, known as “Rub It On Your Chest” which produces merchandise, and extra importantly jobs, for people who find themselves launched from jail and wish a leg up.
A standing convention is about for Jan. 21 and a jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2025.
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